Brazil is a secular state, not an atheist one. And the difference is stark

The distinction between a secular state and an atheist state is often misunderstood in Brazil, even among authorities. While the Federal Constitution does not explicitly declare Brazil a secular state, this principle is derived from several constitutional articles, particularly Article 5, Clause VI, and Article 19, Clause I.

Article 5, Clause VI, guarantees the inviolability of freedom of conscience and belief, ensuring the free exercise of religious worship and protecting places of worship and their liturgies. Article 19, Clause I, prohibits the Union, states, Federal District, and municipalities from establishing religious cults or churches, subsidizing them, hindering their functioning, or maintaining relations of dependence or alliance with them or their representatives.

These provisions establish that Brazil has no official religion. The state must not favor one religion over others and must ensure the free exercise of all faiths and protect religious freedom. The Supreme Federal Court has affirmed this principle, ruling that religious and non-religious individuals stand on the same legal footing, adhering to the principle of equality before the law.

The state is permitted to collaborate with religious entities when there is a public interest. Examples include agreements for social assistance, military, hospital, and prison chaplaincies, tax immunity for temples of any faith, and optional religious education in public schools. The constitution does not prohibit optional religious teaching or the presence of religious symbols in public buildings, provided no one is compelled to participate in religious acts or profess any belief. This reflects the fundamental rights to religious freedom and freedom of conscience.